The Trans Ban and Control of the News Cycle

July 27, 2017 (San Diego) the Twitter was weaponized, once again, by the President of the United States. It was hasty. He wanted to change the subject from Russia-Gate. He wanted to change the subject from his spat with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. This was a cynical use of the Twitter, playing with the lives of American Service Members.
This policy statement, lacks actual policy prescriptions. It took service chiefs by surprise, and seemingly was done in a vacuum. Making a decision like this may work in the private sector. In fact, this is how it works in a family business. However, stating a decision on Twitter does not make it happen within the government.

What it has done however, is get a conversation started on something that is entirely different than Russia-Gate which is now involving his close family. Both Donald Trump Junior and his son in law Jared Kushner are now in the sights of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller.

The president is pressuring his Attorney General to resign. It seems he cannot say his trademark phrase from **The Apprentice** “you’re fired.” Sessions is not quitting, never mind the pressure from the president. He also has a lot of support from his former colleagues in the Senate. To the point that Senator Linsey Graham (R-SC) warned the president that he is making a grave mistake, if he dismisses Sessions in order to fire the special prosecutor. This could be the beginning of the end for his presidency, according to Graham.

This is not an idle threat. Many in Congress are aware that Trump seeks to remove Mueller. Why Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), and others are planning legislation to prevent this action from the president. She also said that:

“This morning transgender service members put on their uniform and showed up for their military duties to be told by their Commander in Chief via Twitter that he doesn’t want them in ‘any capacity.’ These service members are willing to die for their country, and this is an insult to their brave and honorable service. This new directive is harmful, misguided, and weakens – not strengthens – our military. I will introduce legislation and will fight to overturn this discriminatory decision.”

She is also introducing legislation with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to prevent this complete ban.

However, the Tweet has achieved some of its goals. It is to take control of the daily news cycle and attempt to bury Russia-Gate. The warnings coming from Congress are serious and deepen the crisis. It shows that this tactic by the president is loosing its effect.